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Texas Health Dallas Honored for Excellence in the Care and Treatment of Lung Cancer PatientsToday the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) awarded Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas the official designation as a Community Hospital Center of Excellence. The ALCF Centers of Excellence award recognizes community hospitals for their individualized care and treatment of lung cancer patients. "Right now 80 percent of all cancer patients are treated at community hospitals," said Bonnie J. Addario, a stage 3B lung cancer survivor and ALCF founder. "Our multi-disciplinary, patient-centric Centers of Excellence Program raises the bar on the standard of care for lung cancer patients." As a Community Hospital Center of Excellence, Texas Health Dallas is implementing the standard of care required in the ALCF's Centers of Excellence Program. The program's hallmark standard ensures all patients receive genomic testing to monitor for specific disease states and to determine potential options for precision medicine and targeted treatment. Additional standards include an individualized approach to care, patient access to new diagnostic tools and therapeutic techniques, and an emphasis on early detection and patient follow-up. The goal of the screening program is to identify individuals who might be at an increased risk for lung cancer. Participants must be:
"We offer each of our patients an individualized approach to their cancer treatment, with the goal of providing the right treatment for the right person at the right time," said Dr. Pat Fulgham, medical director of Oncology at Texas Health Dallas. "We are honored to be recognized with this Center of Excellence designation and dedicated to advancing precision medicine and targeted treatment options for lung cancer patients and their families." Texas Health Dallas follows the ALCF's successful pilot program at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California. Preliminary metrics from the 2013 pilot program highlight that patient outcomes improved dramatically during the pilot stag's first year.
While the understanding of lung cancer's diagnosis and treatment has improved, additional work needs to be done. In 2015 alone, more than 221,200 new lung cancer cases will be identified in the U.S., and the American Cancer Society estimates more than 158,000 Americans will die of the disease.
"We are thrilled about this affiliation with a great foundation," said Dr. Haskell Kirkpatrick, lung cancer specialist on the medical staff at Texas Health Dallas. "Our goals are the same, providing quality care for our patients with lung cancer through early detection, research and a comprehensive multi-disciplined approach to care." "The ALCF is focused on initiatives that empower patients to take a seat at the table wherever discussions are being made about their care," added Addario. "We are committed to improving the standard of care and believe genomic testing and targeted therapy is the future of lung cancer treatment and the pathway to increasing the survival rate for all lung cancer patients." About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation's goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $20 million for lung cancer research and related programs. About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is an 898-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, having provided compassionate care to the residents of Dallas and surrounding communities since 1966. US News and World Report has ranked Texas Health Dallas among the nation's best hospitals in digestive disorders, orthopedics, and neurology and neurosurgery. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Dallas has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.
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